Ruth Whalen Crockett is the Director of the New Teachers Collaborative, a teacher residency program hosted at the Francis W. Parker Charter Essential School in Devens, Massachusetts.  Ruth believes school improvement starts when adults reflect deeply on their experiences as learners and envision schools as dynamic sites for equitable collaboration, problem solving and self-reflection. This requires us to "unschool" ourselves so that together we can create a new educational narrative for children and adults in schools. Her work with new teachers requires a deep commitment to adult learning and the core belief that excellent teaching is not magical but replicable. Ruth collaborates closely with new teachers to imagine and author equitable and inviting learning experiences for students and their families.

Throughout her career, Ruth has taught novice and intermediate level Spanish classes. She has led many professional development experiences on student-centered learning, proficiency-based language instruction and assessment, the Senior Project, and tools for facilitative leadership for the Sizer Teachers Center, the Center of Secondary School Redesign and the School Reform Initiative. 

Ruth holds a B.A. in Spanish from Beloit College and M.Ed in Teacher Leadership from the Harvard University School of Education. When not in the classroom, Ruth enjoys reading a good book and digging in the garden.